Solfege syllable for the 1st note of the major scale: Do
Solfege syllable for the 2nd note: Re
Solfege syllable for the 3rd note: Mi
Solfege syllable for the 4th note: Fa
Solfege syllable for the 5th note: Sol
Solfege syllable for the 6th note: La
Solfege syllable for the 7th note: Ti
Solfege syllable for the 8th note: Do (higher)
Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do: The solfege syllables for a major scale
Which song teaches solfege?: Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music
Fixed Do: Do is always the note C
Movable Do: Do is the tonic of whatever key you are in
Hand signs for solfege: Hand shapes that show each syllable, developed by John Curwen
Musical alphabet: A B C D E F G, then it repeats
How many white keys in an octave?: Seven
How many black keys in an octave?: Five
How many keys in an octave total?: Twelve
How many keys on a standard piano?: 88
Black keys come in groups of...: Twos and threes
C is the white key just left of...: The group of two black keys
F is the white key just left of...: The group of three black keys
Where is middle C?: Near the center of the keyboard, left of the two black keys
Which white keys have no black key between them?: B and C, and E and F
Why are there half steps between E and F and B and C?: Those white keys are next to each other with no black key between
Sharp on the piano: The key to the right
Flat on the piano: The key to the left
C sharp equals which flat?: D flat
Enharmonic notes: Two names for one pitch, like F# and Gb
Pitch: How high or low a note sounds
High pitch: Fast vibrations
Low pitch: Slow vibrations
Frequency: How many vibrations happen per second, measured in hertz
Hertz (Hz): One vibration per second
A above middle C: 440 Hz, the standard tuning note
Tuning fork: A metal fork that makes a steady pitch when struck
Octave: Same note name, 12 half steps away, twice the frequency
Soprano range: About middle C up two octaves
Pitch of a short string vs a long string: Shorter string sounds higher
Pitch of a thin string vs a thick string: Thinner string sounds higher
Volume: How loud a sound is
Timbre: What makes a flute sound different from a trumpet on the same note
Sustain pedal: The right piano pedal that lets notes keep ringing
Soft pedal (una corda): The left piano pedal that makes the sound softer
Hammers: Parts of a piano that strike the strings
Grand piano: A piano with horizontal strings and a lid
Upright piano: A piano with strings that stand vertically
Keyboard: The row of keys on a piano or synthesizer
Chromatic: Moving by half steps
Diatonic: Using the notes of one major or minor scale
Treble: The higher range
Bass (range): The lowest range
Perfect pitch (absolute pitch): The rare ability to name a note without a reference
Relative pitch: Knowing notes by comparing them with other notes
Fingering on piano: Thumb is finger 1, pinky is finger 5
Middle C finger on right hand: Thumb (finger 1) in C position
Octave sign 8va: Play an octave higher
Black key group of three: F#/Gb, G#/Ab, A#/Bb
Black key group of two: C#/Db, D#/Eb

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/music-solfege-piano-keys